419 - Nigerian Advance Fee Fraud
Scam Types and Variants

Written specifically for NextWebSecurity.com and
published here, courtesy of the
419 Coalition

Note: Be advised that the list of 419 (Nigerian Advanced Fee Fraud)
scam types and variants below does not include all possible variants. Do not assume that if it is not on this list that the email sent to you is
legitimate. For additional information on how to identify
these scams, please see the Top 10 Warning
Signs page. Be scam aware. Be educated. Always remember that if it seems
too good to be true, it probably is.

ATM Card 419 Scam:
The ATM Card Payment Scam is used in conjunction with other scams, such as a
fake Lottery Scam, Unpaid Contractor Scam
or similar exploits. The victim is promised an ATM card with which the victim
can withraw millions dollars (up to a large limit per day) at any location that
accepts ATM cards. However like all Advance Fee Frauds, the victim must pay a
fee to receive the card. If it ever is received, it will not work. A
"Replacement card" will be offered, again for a fee. - NWS

Auction 419 Scam: The scammer "wins" an auction on eBay or another auction
site, then "overpays" for the item with a check or money order. The scammer then
asks the target to send him the overage and the scam segues into Cashier's
Check 419.

Black Currency 419 Scam: The scammer has a large amount of currency
available to share with the target, but the currency has been defaced. However,
the currency can be cleaned if the target will purchase enough of the correct
cleaning solution (this type of 419 is also called "wash wash"). Black Currency
419 "tales" and techniques are commonly used in many other types of 419
operations.

Cashier's Check 419 Scam: The scammer has Cashier's Checks or money orders
he/she needs cashed, and the target can keep a percentage of the check for
cashing it and forwarding the proceeds net his commission to the scammer. Then
the original check or money order sent to the target eventually bounces, and
the target is out the money advanced to the scammer. The target also is cash out
to his bank for any problems with his account caused by the bouncing of the
original check as he must make up any overdrafts and pay any relevant fees etc.
Many other types of 419 are in actuality variants of Cashier's Check 419.

Charitable Organization 419 Scam: The scammer approaches a charitable
organization with a request for help, usually about getting a large sum of
money transferred out of a country in which the charitable organization's
brethren can claim to be persecuted. A percentage of the proceeds is often
offered to the charitable organization for their assistance. The scammer needs
monies for fees in order to get the monies freed up.

Chat Room 419 Scam: The 419 meets the target online in a chat room etc.
or through a dating or instant messenger online service, befriends the target,
and gets the target to advance him/her monies for various reasons. Often segues
into Romance 419 or Cashier's Check 419.

Classic 419 Scam: The scammer has or can gain access to
a large sum of money by some means and he/she needs the financial and personal
help of the target, in return for a percentage of the funds, to get the
necessary transactions processed and get monies out of the country. Many other
types of 419 are in actuality variants of Classic 419. Also, Classic 419 often
segues into Black Currency 419.
To view the lifecycle of the classic 419 scam, click
here.

Classified Ad 419 Scam: The scammer buys something from a classified ad
and then pays with a bad check or segues into Cashier's Check 419.

Disaster 419 Scam: The scammer says someone has been killed in a plane
crash, earthquake, tsunami, or other disaster, leaving a large sum of money
behind which can be claimed by the target or split between the target and the
scammer if the scammer can be advanced the monies necessary to process the
transaction. Often segues into Black Currency 419.

Employment 419 Scam: The scammer "employs" the target to process financial
transactions for a commission and has the target advance the net proceeds of
these transactions to the scammer before the checks sent to the target bounce
(segues into Cashier's Check 419). Also, another form,
where the scammer offers a lucrative job to the target but certain fees must be
paid up front by the target to get the job.

Extortion 419 Scam: The scammer says that if the target does not send him
money the scammer will hurt or kill the target and/or his family.

Goods and Services 419 Scam: The scammer orders goods or services advanced
to him on credit and then does not pay or pays with a bad check, often segues
into Cashier's Check 419.

Next of Kin / Inheritance 419 Scam: The scammer informs the target that someone has died
with no relatives to claim the large cash bequest left by the deceased. Often,
the scammer says that if someone does not claim the money it will revert to the
Government and no-one will get it. The target is asked to "stand in" as a
relative to claim the money, with the scammer taking care of all the details, and
then split the proceeds with the scammer. The scammer needs monies for fees to get
the target declared the rightful inheritor.

Lottery 419 Scam: The scammer says the target has
won a lottery, but fees and taxes etc.must be paid before the proceeds can be
released.

Oil Scam 419 Scam: The scammer has secured a large amount of oil at below
market prices, and the target can get in on the deal for a fee.

Real Estate 419 Scam: The scammer wants to buy real estate, but cannot
free up his monies just now to do it, so he asks the target to advance him/her
all or some of the funds for the purchase in return for partial ownership of
the real estate or a large future fee to be paid to the target.

Recovery 419 Scam: The scammer claims he/she can recover monies lost by
the target in a previous 419 operation, but fees must be paid in advance to
accomplish this.

Reload 419 Scam: The scammer approaches a target who has already been
419ed and offers the target another type of 419 deal to enable the target to
"replace" his/her lost monies or the scammer claims has can bring the previous
deal to fruition, if necessary fees are paid by the target.

Reshipper 419 Scam: The scammer
will attempt to obtain stolen merchandise
for personal use or to sell. Because many companies will not send merchandise
to Nigeria or Eastern Europe due to warnings about stolen credit card purchases,
the scammer must find an in-country person to receive then reship the goods. Click
the link for a complete description.

Romance (Love or Dating) 419 Scam: The scammer is in love with the target,
but needs money to clear up various problems the scammer is having before he/she
can be with the target, often segues into Cashier's Check 419.

Unpaid Contractor 419 Scam: In this variant of the Classic 419 Scam
Advance Fee Fraud, the scammer will claim to be with the Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) or some government ministry.
The name of CBN president Charles Soludo is often used in this scam. The victim is
told to pose as a contractor who has not yet been paid by the Nigerian government
from a "completed project". The money is to be split between victim and the scammer.
Paynemts from the victim will be required to participate in this crime.

War Booty 419 Scam: The scammer says he is a trooper who has stumbled
across a large sum of war booty and will pay the target a percentage if the
target helps him/her personally and financially to get it out of the country.
Often segues into Black Currency 419.

Will Scam 419 Scam: The scammer informs the target that a distant relative
has died leaving a large sum of money which the target can inherit if the
proper fees are paid.

Important Notes:

Nearly all forms of 419 are Advance Fee Fraud.

It is a common canard that scammers "reach into their target's bank account" end
empty it. That is not how scammers operate. scammers count on their targets to
VOLUNTARILY send funds to the scammer, for whatever reason.

Nigerians have come to commonly use the term 419 to refer to all types of
cheating, misrepresentation, embezzlement, graft, bribery, corruption,
trickery, and anything that is not on the "up and up" - However, 419
Technically remains the "obtaining of money or goods by false pretence" and is
considered to be a primarily West African variant of Advance Fee Fraud (AFF)
crime.

Written specifically for NextWebSecurity.com and
published here, courtesy of the
419 Coalition